Kenyan journalists attacked while covering Kibera clashes

Nairobi, January 22,
2013--Kenyan authorities must hold to account soldiers with the General Service
Unit, Kenya's paramilitary force, in connection with their reported assault of
two journalists on Sunday, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Dennis Okeyo, a
photographer for theDaily Nation,
and John Otanga, a cameraman for Nation TV, said they were attacked by GSU
soldiers while they were attempting to cover politically motivated clashes in
Kibera, a neighborhood in Nairobi, according to news
reports and local journalists. The Daily
Nation and Nation TV are a part of the Nation
Media Group, a large independent media outlet in Kenya.

Otanga told CPJ that
he and Okeyo were prevented from entering Kibera by GSU trucks that were parked
to prevent entry and exit into the area. Soldiers had been assigned to patrol
the neighborhood after supporters of a defeated parliamentary nominee began to
attack locals who had favored the rival nominee, according to news
reports.

Otanga told CPJ that
when Okeyo showed the GSU soldiers his press card, the soldiers began to beat
them with clubs. The soldiers also seized Okeyo's memory card from his camera,
and took 2,000 Kenyan shillings (US$23) from him, Okeyo told CPJ.

Otanga sought
treatment at a local hospital for a head injury and Okeyo for injuries to his
knee and arms, Okeyo told CPJ. The journalist also said that his memory card
and money had not been returned and that they had reported the attack to the
police.

Police Inspector
General David Kimaiyo ordered an investigation into Sunday's attack after
Keriako Tobiko, director of public prosecution, wrote an open letter condemning
attacks on journalists and demanding
a thorough review of the case, according to news reports. Police visited Nation
Media Group today to record statements about the attack, Okeyo told CPJ.

GSU officers have
attacked journalists in previous months. In December, exiled Somali journalist
Muhyadin Ahmed Roble was beaten
and robbed by GSU soldiers near his home in Kairokoo, while investigating a
grenade attack in the area, Roble told CPJ.

"While we welcome
the swift reaction by Kenyan police to investigate this matter, such assaults
should never happen in the first place," said CPJ East Africa Consultant Tom
Rhodes. "This is not the first time the GSU has blatantly attacked and robbed a
journalist in Kenya. Those involved in this attack must be brought to justice,
and the property of Dennis Okeyo should be returned immediately."

The Media Council of
Kenya released a statement condemning
the attack on Okeye and Otanga, and announced the creation of an online portal on which
journalists could report abuses of press freedom.